Defense Firms Seek Alternatives as U.S. Cuts Military Spending

After building a business largely on selling titanium to the U.S. defense industry, Ms. Hickton is turning her sights to health care.

RTI International Metals Inc., of which Ms. Hickton is chief executive, last year paid $182 million to buy a medical-device business, gaining access to the market for spinal implants and other products for the nation's growing numbers of...